A woman has been charged after allegedly leaving her two-year-old son in a parked car at Bankstown in 35 degree heat.
Police were called to a car park on North Terrace just before 2.30pm on Monday by a member of the public who was concerned for the child's welfare.
The young boy was found by officers inside a Toyota Corolla sedan with all the windows wound up.
It is alleged the child was in the vehicle for approximately one hour. The recorded temperature in Bankstown at the time was above 35 degrees celsius.
The child was in a distressed state when officers arrived at the scene, police said.
Officers had to force their way into the car to remove the child before he was treated by NSW Ambulance Paramedics.
The boy was then taken to Bankstown Hospital where he was treated for dehydration.
The mother, a 29-year-old woman, returned to the vehicle after being paged in the shopping centre.
She was given a court attendance notice for leave child in motor vehicle causing emotional distress and will appear at Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday 24 February 2016.
Police have encouraged parents and carers to be aware of the risks associated with leaving children alone in the car.
On a typical summer day, the temperature inside a car - even with the windows slightly rolled down - can quickly rise above 50 to 60 degrees.
High temperatures inside vehicles can put children at a great risk for heat stroke and can lead to dehydration, seizures, stroke and death, police said.
Police have advised anyone who sees a child left unattended in a vehicle to contact Triple Zero immediately.
